A life coach for RV builders

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

You know, we live in an age of specialization and I think I've come up with an idea for a new job: RV construction consultant.

This is different from tech counselor. This is more like a "life coach" for RV builders.

Here's why. I feel myself getting to the point where I'm overwhelmed by what I need to do next, and so I don't know what to do next.

Example: It's too cold to work on the canopy anymore so that's put away 'til spring... I don't want to install the struts and mounts (even though that's what I've been working on) without having the canopy in place.

I don't have an engine yet. I've been buying stuff sort of willy-nilly as funds become available. I've got two foam cores from Oregon Aero but they haven't been upholstered yet, nor is there a hole cut yet for the crotch strap. I made the decision today to pursue getting them covered but DJ at Cleveland said they don't do Oregon Aero seats. Rats. I just bought the Hooker Harness set. I just bought the ICOM radio. I already had the autopilot. I've got the Whelen strobe power pack mounted but there are no wires to it and no wires from it because I haven't planned a panel or wiring routing yet because I haven't decided yet whether I can afford the Vertical Power system which makes a difference in how I design an electrical system... the rear top skins are off... the seatbacks haven't been installed yet because I don't know if I'll need to take the floor up to run wires underneath and.... and.... and.....

So the project is sitting in the garage mostly (part of it is at a hangar but the fuse isn't on landing gear yet so I can't just roll it up onto a flatbed... and it has steps so I can't just plop it in the back of a pick-up and, besides, the hangar isn't heated... of course, neither is the garage.

I've certainly made steady, if certainly slow... progress on the thing over the years.... but now I feel it sitting in the garage... mocking me; saying "c'mon, I dare you to figure out something meaningful you can do on the project."

It seems I'm at the stage where everything somehow depends on something else being done.

I think I'm playing the RV version of "Six degrees of Kevin Bacon."

Yeah, an RV building coach. That could be the next hot job! Someone who makes me "drop and give 'em 20" when I can't figure out what to do next.

[cytoxin]

Originally Posted by Bob Collins

It seems I'm at the stage where everything somehow depends on something else being done.

man i hate this stage..this is when i tried to quit leaving things undone. it soo sucks to think your gonna do something only to find you have to first remove some stuff to install what you needed to, only to see the parts covered up neede to be alumnapred, alodined, and primed. at least a days worth of extra stuff. to be able to finish the job at hand.

[Sam Buchanan]

I've certainly made steady, if certainly slow... progress on the thing over the years.... but now I feel it sitting in the garage... mocking me; saying "c'mon, I dare you to figure out something meaningful you can do on the project."

Lists, Bob, you need lists.

I think most builders hit this hurdle, it just happens at different points for each builder. For me it was as I was finishing up firewall forward and I started finding myself wandering off in several directions at one time. At that point, I took one of the extra three-view drawings, turned it over, drew lines to divide it into several rows, categorized the rows, and labeled them "engine", "cabin", "avionics", etc, etc. I then listed every remaining task I could think of in each category along with any parts or stuff that needed ordering.

When I had finished this exercise, I tacked the sheet on the wall of the shop, stepped back, and pretty much saw my unfinished project in front of me. I could now visualize what I needed to do and how to get there. As I discovered new tasks and items I needed, they were added to the chart. Even better, I could study the chart, plan a course of action, complete the task.....and mark it off the chart!



After a few months of this process, a marvelous thing happened--the uncompleted items on the chart were getting few in number. This plan kept me on course and prevented a lot of wasted time and energy. Many builders use a variation of this method, I've seen several white boards in shops, even a couple of loose-leaf notebooks with "to-do" lists. But I liked the big chart constantly looking down on my progress and prodding me to stay on task.

One day I walked into the shop, noticed there were only two little items left, finished them up in a couple of hours, and was hit with the incomparable realization that my plane was........ready to fly.



I know you are aware of an article I wrote in this regard but for those who may not have seen it either on my site or when it was published in the RVator:

http://thervjournal.com/smart.html

Get organized, and you too will run out of lists sooner than you expect!

[jclark]

I am at the point Bob mentions. Have been there for YEARS!

Of course one of my excuses is that I have been flying the other RV for about 100 hours and I have flown some friends' RVs for about 50+ hours but the REALITY is that I am STUCK! (Kinda like what Bob is saying).

For me, it seems that when someone comes around and says let's do THIS, we "git er done!", but when it is just me, I do mental ramblings until it is time to go fly again.

Seems to be similar to exercise programs for some of us. It is the mental discipline for this task that wanes after a while. There is a need for a driving force ... at least temporarily.

Interestingly enough, I have helped a friend find an RV and I have put NUMNEROUS hours into getting it all tuned up for him as I committed to do it, and am enjoying it! Kinda like if this project of mine belonged to someone else, I would have finished it five years ago.

Sorry about the rambling, but I can relate to where Bob is and wish I had the discipline that Sam mentions.

James

[bsacks05]

Sam is spot on. When you get to the point where the instructions stop holding your hand you need to step back and make a master list. I took some large craft paper and made a master list of major tasks which need to be accomplished. I used a big marker and hung the list on the wall. I also made a list of major things to buy and hung it up there as well. Each major task has many sub-tasks and I would keep a list of those in my wallet so I could access it easily wherever I was.

The other thing I did was to start at the rear of the plane and finish up anything that was undone. When the tail was installed, wired, rigged, etc... I moved onto the center fuse area. I was on that for a long time because there is so much involved. Then it was on to the panel and firewall forward. The very last thing I did before the first flight was to fab and install the spinner assembly, thereby completing my rear to forward strategy. (Wheel pants and gear fairings were installed after flying a few hours)

This worked for me, but overall I would say to develope a plan for completion which suits you. There will be less of a chance for frustration to creep in.
Most importantly - DON'T STOP THE PROGRESS no matter how slowly it may be going.

P.S: The last item on that master list should be "GO FLYING"

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

These are all great ideas. And I've adopted a few of them. But part of it is that I don't feel I can do a lot of these things without doing things that I can't do now.

Take, the electrical for example. It's clear to me -- unless i'm missing something -- I can't do it until I decide the Vertical Power thing. But I can't decide that (I know... I know.... "drop and give me 20").

Finish the canopy. I could...except I can't (or won't, I'm not exactlys ure which) in 30 degree weather.

Part of my challenge....err, my RV coach's challenge... is diagramming those things that can be done independent of other things I can't do. I haven't figured out what those are yet.

This is where having an inexhaustible supply of money would come in handy. I'd just write Stein a check... and Mattituck a check.. an VP a check... and XYZ a check.

[Sam Buchanan]

Of course one of my excuses is that I have been flying the other RV for about 100 hours and I have flown some friends' RVs for about 50+ hours but the REALITY is that I am STUCK! (Kinda like what Bob is saying).

James, I know what you are saying. Once we let the project slide to a back burner, it can be very difficult to bring it back to a boil.

I respect those builders who have huge family/job/life responsibilities that prevent them from working on the project on a consistent basis. If I had been faced with those obstacles, my outcome might not have been as pleasant.

I think it comes down to the fact that in order to build something as involved as an aircraft, we have to have a compulsive desire to see the project to completion. We dangle various carrots depending on what pushes our buttons (I need to fly this thing/I love working in the shop/ this is fantastic therapy), but if the carrot disappears from immediate view, our project is in danger of becoming an orphan.

Bob, wish I had a silver bullet for you. At some point you are going to have to make some decisions. I suggest you spend an evening sitting in front of your plans and finding tasks that can be completed in spite of the uncertain nature of your project. Make that list, and work on tasks even though they may seem insignificant. But each one you tick off will fall into the "Never have to do that again" category.

[AlexPeterson]

Bob,

It is time. Time for another breakfast flight. That will put things in prospective, really.

Compartmentalize, there are certainly independent things that can be done. Put a heater in the garage (you can rationalize that you will get that money back someday when you sell the house). Fiberglass tips done yet? You might be thinking of too many things at a time, unnecessarily.

I'll call if we go Saturday.

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Originally Posted by Sam Buchanan

I suggest you spend an evening sitting in front of your plans and finding tasks that can be completed in spite of the uncertain nature of your project. Make that list, and work on tasks even though they may seem insignificant. But each one you tick off will fall into the "Never have to do that again" category.

I'm thinking one of those snowy Minnesota days (if we ever get one)... when everything is closed... would be a good time to sit down and lay everything out. Unfortunately, that's also the time I pull out the rum and hot cider.

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Originally Posted by AlexPeterson

Fiberglass tips done yet? You might be thinking of too many things at a time, unnecessarily.

Bingo! (needs words here to make the message long enough to post)